Natural environment has undergone rapid transformations, primarily attributed to human actions that threaten ecosystems' balance. Understanding the relationship between humans and nature is essential to generate effective strategies for sustainably using resources. In this study, we analyzed the environmental perception and knowledge about the biology of sea turtles through 120 informal interviews with visitors at beaches on the north-central coast of Rio de Janeiro state. Residents noticed garbage more often than tourists, as did women and younger individuals. The perception of initiatives necessary to increase the preservation of the beaches was higher for people with higher education. In general, there were no differences in biological knowledge about sea turtles between residents, tourists and people who work or study at the cities. The results point to the need for oceanic education strategies that can help raise environmental awareness through long-term conservation programs.

自然环境发生了快速变化，主要归因于威胁生态系统平衡的人类行为。了解人与自然之间的关系对于制定可持续利用资源的有效战略至关重要。在这项研究中，我们通过在里约热内卢州中北部海岸的海滩上对游客进行了 120 次非正式访谈，分析了对海龟生物学的环境感知和知识。居民比游客更频繁地注意到垃圾，女性和年轻人也是如此。受过高等教育的人对加强海滩保护的必要举措的看法更高。总的来说，居民、游客和在城市工作或学习的人对海龟的生物学知识没有差异。